Key-fastener.



M. G. NORTON.

KEY FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 19l6.

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MOSES G. NORTON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

KEY-:FASTENER.

Application filed January 17-, 1916.

' things, is to provide a device of the type mentioned which is capable of use as a key tag and alsoas a key lock,whereby a key may be kept in such a position that it cannot be taken from the keyhole by an unauthorized person tounlock a lock.

It' is also an object of the invention to provide a combinationkeylock and keyhole shield or cover whereby it is impossible to peep through the keyhole and view the interior ofa room.

It is a furtherobject of the invention to providea keytag which is formed with a suspending means, whereby any convenient identification marks, numbers, words or the like placed upon'the tag may be held in such a position .as to present such marks to View, so that any desired key may be readily found among others.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a combined key tag and key ring, the tag being capable of direct connection with the bow orhead of a key by separation or spreading apart of a portion of the said tag for placing of thekey upon the tag or removing it therefrom, as in the -caseof anordinary key ring.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of :this specification: Figure 1 is.

a sideelevation of a key constructed in accordance with this invention,the same being shown in position upon the shank of a door knob and in position to hold a key from turning in the keyhole, adjacent parts of a door also being shown Fig. is an elevation ofthe saidkey tag showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916. Serial No. 72,403.

other side thereof from that disclosed in Fig. 1, and displaying identification or advertising marks thereon. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a keytag made in the form of a key ring, having a split-portion adapted to be sprung apart forthe reception of the .key. Fig. -4 is an edge .elevation of the same and showing the lapping parts of the key ring in closed position. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofa modified form of key ringandtag, and also showing 'detents struck .up from the body portion of the tag for limiting the door handle engaging latch. Fig. -6 is a detailed view looking at the lower edge portion of the form of-tag and key ring shown in Fig. 5.

The device forming the subject matter of this invention is designed to provide a key tag which will serve thepurpose 0f identificationor advertisement and take the place of the ordinary or common key tag in common use in hotels, apartments, rooming houses andthe like. The device is also constructed so as to facilitate its use as a key lock and further to make it possible to cover .or shield the keyholeof a lock whereby the annoyanceor danger of-peepers or curious or inquisitive intruders will be eliminated. Such words or figures as may be used for identification'may also be placed upon the face of the tag, whereby when the tag is hung in the ofiice of a hotel or apartment or other rooming place, it will afford a means of selection of a given key ,from a number of others. Thedevice is also preferably constructed so that it will fulfil the functions-of an ordinary key ring.

In the accompanying drawing preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, and the details and featuresof the invention will now be more specifically described, with reference to said illustra-- tions. In the said drawing 1 indicates the body position of a key-tag, which is preferably made of a flat plate, either of metal, wood, fiber, leather, compressed paper or any other desirable or suitable material. The said tag is provided at one end with an elongated portion having a slot 2, whereby parallel bar portions 3 and 4 will be provided, which are of a proper width to extend through the head or bow 5 of an ordinary key 6. The key may thus readily slip back and forth upon eitherofsaidrbars 3 ands, andby reason oftheconnecting end, portion 7 may slip from one bar to the other.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the connection 7 between the bars may be of a permanent character so that after the key has once been put in place on the tag and the bars welded or otherwise integrally connected, the key cannot be removed from the tag. The opposite end of the tag from bars 3 and 1 is preferably provided with an extension 8 usually shaped in the form of an open hook 9. The said hook 9, is preferably of a suitable size to receive the stem or shank 10, of an ordinary door knob or handle. The tag may thus be suspended on the door handle as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, after the key 6 has been inserted in place in the lock, and in this way the bar 3, will be in position to prevent the turning of the key in the said lock to accomplish its removal. The tag may also be provided, if desired, with means for normally preventing the removal of the hook 9 from the shank or handle 10. A simple though effective means has been disclosed in the drawing, where 11 indicates a latch pivoted at 12 upon the tag 1, in such a position that a projecting nose 13, may be made to project into the entrance of the opening within the hook 9 for preventing the removal of the tag from the shank 10. One end of the latch 11, is preferably enlarged to form a weight 14, whereby the latch will normally hang, when the tag is suspended in the position shown in Fig. 1. The extremes of the movements of said latch 11 -are preferably limited by means of studs 15 and 16, which project from the tag 1. When the latch is moved to bring the nose 13 against the stud 16, the said nose is moved out of the way, so that the tag may be hooked upon the shank of the door knob. One face of the plate forming the tag may be provided with any usual or preferable marks of identification, or advertisement. The said marks are preferably placed as shown in Fig. 2, upon the reverse side of the tag from that occupied by the latch 11. Thus a number 17 may be used as identifying a room, or lock to which the key belongs. The name of a hotel as 18, or other data or advertising matter may also be placed upon the tag in any desirable manner. In the case of tags for hotel keys, the suspension means or hook 9, is exceedingly convenient for it may be suspended upon a support of hook 19, mounted upon a key holder, board, wall or other preferred support. When the tag is thus supported the identification marks 17 and 18 are held so as to be in plain view greatly facilitating the finding and selection of any desired key. In addition to the use of a device of this character for hotel or like purposes, the tag is also adapted for private use in many places and may be then used as a key ring. In this instance the key holding portion of the tag is preferably made with separate bars as 20 and 21 which may be sprung apart or otherwise separated for the reception of a key or the removal of same as shown in views 3 and 4:. The said bars 20 and 21 may be provided with the elongated tapered portions 22 and 23, which may be lapped upon each other for closing the slot 24: between the bars. These parts can be readily sprung or separated sufiiciently to have the head of an ordinary key threaded thereon, as in the case of an ordinary key ring in common use.

As shown in Fig. 5, the tag may beso constructed that one of its locking bars, 25, may have an irregular cut 26 separating it from another portion 27 of said bar. The other bar as 28 will in this instance be made integral and will be turned about the lower end of the slot 29, so as to hold and carry the portion 27. The parts 25 and 27 may be sprung in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 16, for the reception or removal of the key. The detents for limiting the movement of the latch 11 may also be struck up from the plate forming the tag 1, as shown at 30 and 31 in Fig. 5 of the drawing. It will thus be evident that many minor details of construction may be altered in the formation of the key tag, and it will also be evident that the shape of the tag may be considerably varied within the spirit and scope of this invention.

In use the key 6, is placed in the lock of the door or other movable part to be locked. The tag is then slipped longitudinally, so that one or the other of its parallel parts 3 and 4 are projected through the head of the key. The tag is swung upwardly so that the hook 9, engages the stem or shank of the door knob, and so that the latch 1.1- will fall behind the said stem. The key is thus held in such a position that the key bit extends approximately at right angles to the plane of the keyhole, in which position the key cannot be pushed or, forced from the lock. The bar of the tag makes it impossible to turn the key by unauthorized means or from the outside of the door. The bar which extends through the head of the key is also of convenience in forming a cover or shield over the keyhole thus preventing the insertion of wires or other means for endeavoring to manipulate the parts so as to free the key. The tag 1 need not be made any larger than the usual tag employed upon the hotel key and the connection of the key and the tag dispenses with the usual connection members, wires, rings, chains or the like, yet is of such character that a key may be folded fiat against the same, so that it can be conveniently carried in the pocket. It should understood also, hat mechanical equivalents of the parts shown and described may be employed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a plate having parallel bar xtensions connected at their outer ends and adapted to engage the head of a key, to prevent it from turning, the said bar extension also covering the keyhole for shielding the 531116 and affording means for holding the device in proper relation to the key and keyhole.

2. A device of the class described comprising a plate, a hook extension adapted to hold the plate suspended, a gravity latch to lock said plate to a support, and a key engaging portion on said device adapted to prevent the unauthorized turning of a key.

3. A device of the class described comprising a body portion having a slotted projection forming a plurality of key head engaging bars, the said body portion of the device having identification marks thereon, a. suspension hook also projecting from said body portion and an automatically operated latch for holding the said hook on a supkey in a look, a suspension hook formed upon said plate and adapted to engage the shank of a door knob for holding the plate in key locking position.

MOSES G. NORTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

